Valve buttons for pressurized dispensers and dies for making the same



Nov. 14, 1931 R. H. ABPLANALP ETAL VALVE BUTTONS FOR PRESSURIZED DISPENSERS AND DIES FOR MAKING THE SAME Filed Oct. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l L...-

NTOR$ TTORN EY Nov. 14, 1961 R. H. ABPLANALP ETAL 3,008,654

VALVE BUTTONS FOR PRESSURIZED DISPENSERS AND 015s FOR MAKING THE SAME Filed Oct. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States York Filed Oct. 10, 1956, Ser. No. 615,136 4 Claims. (Cl. 239468) This invention relates to valve buttons for pressurized dispensers and also includes dies in which said buttons may be pressure molded.

The buttons of this invention may be employed in connection with aerosol materials or mixtures. An aerosol material is, in the true sense, a solution of an active ingredient and a propellant, in contradistinction to a mixture which consists of a solid particle active ingredient and a propellant. In such mixtures, the solid particle active ingredient is in suspension instead of in true solution.

A number of dispensing valves known to the market are adapted to efficiently dispense aerosol solutions but are either wholly ineffective or seriously defective in the dispensing of mixtures, such as above referred to. The difliculty arises through the inability of the push buttons, with which the valves are equipped, to produce a satisfactory spray pattern throughout Which the solid particles are uniformly distributed in discrete and separated form. Most prior construction with which it has been attempted to dispense such materials either dispense the same in large droplets with excessive drip at the nozzle or squirt the material in the form of a stream, both of which conditions are wholly undesirable.

Exhaustive experimentation has shown that a very high degree of turbulence of the material before and as it leaves the nozzle is essential to satisfactory dispensing of mixtures and it has been found that the most satisfactory way to accomplish this is to dispense the same through a nozzle which imparts to them a rapid rotary motion, so that the mixtures leave the nozzle and form a spray pattern in which the material swirls at high velocity.

Numerous attempts havebeen made to construct .valve operating buttons which would bring about this result, but this has involved many difficult problems because satisfactory spraying requires that the nozzle opening be extremely small and many times minute.

Although the need has been acute and some of the best minds in this art have been applied to these problems, the best and only solution heretofore obtained has been to construct the button of a plurality of parts which must be separately fabricated and subsequently assembled. The resulting buttons are expensive to pro duce and materially add to the cost of the dispensing mechanism as a whole.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a valve button which will accomplish highly effective results in the dispensing of a discrete solid particle-propellent mixture and which may be made complete in a single pressure molding shot, with all parts thereof integral with one another, so that no prefabrication is required and no subsequent assembly operation necessary.

The accomplishment of this object is made possible by the use of dies of unique construction which, as hereinafter pointed out, may be readily made by any experienced die maker. They are such that the use of these dies in a conventional pressure molding machine, utilizing any appropriate kind of thermoplastic, Will result in the production of the button of this invention.

Generally speaking, this button is provided with the usual nozzle perforation, but immediately adjacent the atent O "ice inner end of the nozzle perforation is formed a circular chamber, preferably coaxial with the nozzle. Leading off-center into said circular chamber and preferably substantially tangent thereto is a passage through which the mixture is fed from the interior of a hollow valve stem. Since this material is under considerable pressure, it traverses said passage, enters the circular chamber otfcenter, swirls about therein at high velocity and exits therefrom through the nozzle perforation with high velocity circular motion, to be discharged therefrom in the form of a swirling spray of substantially conical form, having a smaller or larger angle at its apex according t the size and shape of the nozzle perforation.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an aerosol dispenser embodying the present invention and indicating the swirling character of the particles in the spray pattern.

FIG. 2 is a central section through the button of FIG. 1, showing said button attached to a tubular valve stem through which the mixture is delivered from an associated pressurized container. This section is taken on the line 22 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a section through male and female elements of a die, according to the present invention, for pressure molding one form of button of this invention.

FIG. 6 shows, in perspective, one part of the male member illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows the other part of the male member of the male die in perspective.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the part shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows the parts of FIGS. 6 and 8 assembled.

FIG. -11 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 10.

The die shown in FIGS. 1-ll comprises a female member 1 having therein a die cavity 2 of any appropriate shape depending upon the desired shape of the button to be molded therein. The male member of the die may be conveniently mounted within a die plate 3 and is preferably made in two parts. One part is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, while the other part is shown in FIGS. 8' and 9. The major portion of the male die of FIGS. 6 and 7 is indicated at 4 and is shown as, in the main, substantially cylindrical, although it may be made in whole or in part of any other desired shape. It is provided with an axial pocket 5 and to one side of this axial pocket and spaced therefrom and from the outer periphery of the portion 4, is an upstanding flange 6 of circular form as shown best in FIG. 6.

The other part of the male die, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, comprises a cylindrical stem 7 of a diameter to snugly fit into the pocket 5 of the part 4 and this stem is surmounted by an upstanding flange 8 extending substantially diametrically across the top of said stem 7 and projecting slightly beyond the left hand side thereof, as viewed in FIG. 8. The back side of the flange 8 is inclined as shown at 11.

One convenient way of making the parts, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, is to first form the stem 7 with the cylindrical super structure 12 shown in dot and dash lines in FIG. 8 and then machine away the excess material leaving the flange 8 shaped as shown and integrally joined to its stem 7. In FIG. 9 the part 8 is shown in full lines, while the dot and dash lines indicate the relative position of the flange 6 when the parts are assembled. When the stem 7 is seated in the pocket '5, it is of less height than the depth of said pocket, as shown in FIG. 10, so that the lower portion of the flange is within said pocket. The purpose of this relation is to form, in the molded button, the annular channel, indicated at 13 in FIG. 2, into which the upper end of the valve stem 14 may project and, seat to form with said channel a tight leakproof seal.

When the parts of FIGS. 69 are assembled as described, they appear as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, with the vertical edge 15 of the flange 8 chamfered to have face abutting relation with the adjacent face of the flange 6 and arranged in angular relation to the plane of that face, as shown in FIG. 11. The parts may be held in this assembled relation either by having the stem make a forced fit in the pocket or by securing it therein by a set screw, pin or otherwise.

In utilizing the die parts hereinbcfore described for the pressure molding of a button, the parts 4 and 7, assembled as shown in FIG. and mounted in the mold plate 3, are, positioned within the die cavity 2., as shown in FIG. 2. This cavity is gated at 16 or in any other suitable manner.

A, retractable core 17 projects through one side of the female mold into the mold chamber 2 and is preferably inclinedv as shown. The inner end of this core has a projection 18, the free end of which abuts the contiguous face of the flange 6, as shown in FIG. 5. The portion of the core 17 which extends into the cavity 2 serves to form the mouth 17a. of the button, while the projection 18 produces, the nozzle passage or nozzle of such button. This projection is preferably flared, as shown, although the flare may be in the opposite direction without departing from this invention and maybe of any shape desired although the form illustratedv is highly effective.

In molding buttons in a mold such as described, we find it convenient and desirable to use a thermoplastic which is more or less resilient. Polyethylene is the preferred plastic. It is introduced into the mold when the parts are as shown in FIG. 5, through the runner and gate 16, or inany other suitable manner and fills the entire mold cavity which is unoccupied by the male die and core projections.

Immediately following injection of the plastic, it solidifies, but it remains sufliciently warm and elastic, to permit of a separation of the core parts and withdrawal of the cast from the female mold. The core 17 is first withdrawn and the nozzle passage 18a around the projection 18 stretches sufficiently to permit of the withdrawal of said core. Immediately thereafter the male die is withdrawn.

It will be noted from FIG. 10 that there is a space 9below the lower edge of the flange 8 and above the surface 10 in which the plastic will extend beneath this flange, so that with a hard material cast it would be difficult, if not impossible, to withdraw the male mold. However, with a soft material, such as polyethylene, in the warm state in which it is at the time, this so-called undercut portion will readily be disrupted as the male die is withdrawn, but as soon as said die is withdrawn, the disrupted part will immediately go back into place without impairing the usefulness of the cast.

After the male. die has been withdrawn, the cast button may be discharged from the mold in any suitable manner well known inthe art, such as by one or more appropriate plungers acting through the top of the mold cavity.

The resulting cast button B is as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The cavity 4a of the cast, formed by the member 4, is adapted to receive the tubular valve stem 14 of a dispensing valve, which has a nice close press fit therewith, As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the tubular stem projects into and closely seats Within the channel 13 and seals the opening at the bottom of the chamber 6a which was formed by the base of the flange 6. Thus, the only outlet for mixture passing upwardly through the valve stem 14, is through the passage 8a which was formed by the flange 8 during the molding operation. As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, this passage Sa extends from substantially the central portion of the passage through the valve stem, upwardly and laterally, see FIGS. 3 and 4, and passes through the near wall of the circular chamber 6a in an elongated mouth 2% which is substantially tangential to the chamber 6a, as very clearly shown in the latter figure. The nozzle 18a is coaxial with this chamber, its position being indicated in dot and dash lines in FIG. 4.

When a push button, constructed as described, is mounted on a valve stem 14, forming part of a valve and container, such as shown in Patent No. 2,631,814, or with any other valve or container which delivers through a hollow stem, the material will, when the valve is opened, pass upwardly through the tubular stem 14 to the button B. Its only escape from the upper end of this stem is through the passage 8a from which it is delivered into the circular chamber 6a off-center and preferably substantially tangentially of the latter. As it enters said chamber, it is caused to swirl in the manner indicatedv by the arrows in FIG. 4, and, as it leaves said chamber through the central nozzle 18a, this swirling action persists in the spray pattern, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, to produce the results hereinbefore described.

In order to function to the. best advantage in carrying out the purposes stated, we have found thatit is desirable to make the flange 8 somewhat thinner than the flange 6 of the die for with this arrangement objectionableback pressures are avoided and a better rotary travel of the material within the circular chamber 6a of the button is produced. We therefore prefer to make the flanges in the manner stated, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

Suflice it to say that with the arrangement described the swirling action produces such an efiicient mechanical agitation of the components of the material that they are thoroughly admixed with one another and exit from the nozzle in a spray pattern in which the discrete solid particles are uniformly distributed throughout the pattern in such uniform dispersion as is conducive to application of the material to an extraneous object in the most effective and efiicient manner.

A wide variety of solid materials may be effectually dispensed through this button, such as powders, flakes and similar materials useful for cleaning, polishing, coating and other purposes.

This invention possesses many advantages over prior practice. It permits the accomplishments of the results to which We have referred through simple and conventional pressure molding practice and it entirely eliminates the necessity of subsequent assembly of separately fabricated parts heretofore required to produce the swirling discharge. By the use of this invention swirling discharge valve buttons may be produced at the same cost as the ordinary straight trajectory discharge buttons and at the same time and without any additional operations.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical form, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A one piece integral molded button having in its bottom a cavity adapted to snugly receive the free end of a tubular valve stem, a circular chamber molded within the button at one side of the cavity with one side of said chamber opening into the cavity, which open side is adapted to be. closed by the valvestem whenthe latter is in place in the cavity, a passage leading from the end wall at the base of the cavity and merging into the circular chamber substantially tangentially of the latter, and a discharge opening integral with the molding and extending from the circular chamber to the exterior of the button.

2. In an assembly of the character described, a pressurized container having a valve with an upstanding tubular valve stem, and on the valve stem a one-piece valve operating button provided in its bottom with a socket having at its base an annular channel which receives and forms a close fitting seat for the end of the valve stem, said button also having integrally formed therein a discharge opening leading outwardly through the lateral wall of the button from a circular chamber within the confines of the button, and a passage leading from said socket and merging into the circular chamber tangentially of the latter, there being an opening between the circular chamber and the annular channel, said opening being seated by the valve stem when the latter is seated in said channel.

3. In an assembly of the character described, a pressurized container having a valve with an upstanding tubular valve stem, and on the valve stem a one-piece valve operating button provided in its bottom with a socket having at its base an annular channel which receives and forms a close fitting seat for the end of the valve stem, said. button also having integrally formed therein a discharge opening leading outwardly through the lateral wall of the button from a circular chamber within the confines of the button, and a passage leading from said socket and merging into the circular chamber tangentially of the latter, there being a fracture oi the substance of the button between the circular chamber and annular channel which fracture is sealed against the passage of material when the valve stem is seated in said channel.

4. A one-piece integral molded button having in its bottom a cavity adapted to snugly receive the free end of a tubular valve stem, a circular chamber molded within the button at one side of the cavity with one side of said chamber opening into the cavity, which open side is adapted to be closed by the valve stem when the latter is in place in the cavity, a passage leading from the end Wall at the base of the cavity upwardly in an inclined direction and merging into the circular chamber substantia-lly tangentially of the latter, and a discharge opening integral with the molding and extending from the circular chamber to the exterior of the button.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 665,224 Johannis Jan. 1, 1901 1,614,532 Mobley Jan. 18, 1927 2,362,080 Martin Nov. 7, 1944 2,476,558 Maxness July 19, 1949 2,621,973 Lodes Dec. 16, 1952 2,731,298 Green Jan. 17, 1956 2,767,023 Venus Oct. 16, 1956 2,773,284 Kelly Dec. 11, 1956 2,775,483 Treharne et al. Dec. 25, 1956 2,789,012 Bretz Apr. 16, 1957 2,801,029 Bretz July 30, 1957 2,906,461 Bretz Sept. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,117,796 France Mar. 5, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3 O08 654 November 14; 1961 Robert Henry Abplanalp et ala It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat v ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 line 19, for "seatewi first. ocommrence read sealed Signed and sealed this 4th day of June 1963B (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

